Licensure within the state of Michigan is granted by the Michigan Board of Psychology (the Board). While limited licenses are provided at the master’s level for those graduating from qualifying institutions with approved degrees, full licensure requires a doctorate degree in addition to the completion of extensive psychology-related experience and passing a national examination. This guide will walk you through the multi-step process toward becoming a clinical psychologist in the state.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Psychologist in Michigan

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and (optionally) a master’s degree in psychology.

The first step toward becoming a psychologist in Michigan is a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree generally involves four years of full-time study, or around 120 semester hours. Your bachelor’s may be in another subject, but you may be required to take additional coursework before being considered for a graduate program in psychology.

After earning a bachelor’s, some licensure candidates choose to complete a stand-alone master’s in psychology. Master’s degrees usually take from two to three years to complete and 30 to 40 credit hours. Many doctoral programs in psychology include a master’s degree as part of the curriculum.

Michigan also offers limited licensure at the master’s level if the educational program meets specific requirements. This limited license allows you to practice psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

A doctorate in psychology is required for licensure as an independent clinical psychologist in Michigan. The qualifying degree may be either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. Check out our comparison of PsyD and PhD requirements. Both the PhD and the PsyD commonly take between four and seven years to complete.

The qualifying program must meet the accreditation or approval standards of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). Those enrolled in a psychology doctoral degree program who are completing their first 2,000-hour internship will need to apply for a Doctoral Temporary Educational Limited License (D-TLLP). This license costs $103, is valid for two years, and is renewable up to three times.

Find psychology programs in Michigan that meet the requirements for licensure.

3. Submit an application for limited licensure.

In addition to the predoctoral internship, prospective psychologists in Michigan must complete post-degree training. Candidates must hold a Doctoral Educational Limited License (D-ELL) before starting supervised experience. This license must be renewed annually, up to a maximum of four times.

4. Earn supervised professional experience.

To be licensed as a psychologist in Michigan, you must complete a total of 4,000 hours of supervised experience in psychology. Normally, 2,000 of these hours are completed during the doctoral internship and 2,000 hours are completed postdoctorally. All hours must occur under the supervision of licensed psychologists in good standing. You will need to have supervisors fill out and submit Psychology Supervision Evaluation forms verifying all experience completed.

The 2,000 hours of post-degree experience must be completed in a healthcare setting and within a 24-month timeframe. You must work between 16 and 40 hours per week with a minimum of four monthly hours of in-person meetings with an approved supervisor.

5. Pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Candidates may register for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) while completing experience with the D-ELL license if they have received approval from the Board. Those pursuing full licensure at the doctoral level must obtain a scaled score of no less than 500. EPPP practice exams are available on the ASPPB website.

6. Complete training in human trafficking and implicit bias.

All applicants must have completed two hours of implicit bias training within the five years preceding the application, as well as at least one hour of training in human trafficking.

7. Submit your application for full licensure.

The Board uses the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS) for license applications. The application fee is $162. Documentation to send to the Board in addition to an application includes official transcripts from the school in which your doctoral degree was granted and the supervision evaluation forms. Applicants will be sent instructions including an ID number to complete the fingerprinting and background check process.

8. Receive your psychology license from the Board.

Once the Board receives your passing score on the EPPP and has verified all other requirements are met, your psychology license will be issued.

Michigan Licensure by Endorsement

To receive a license by endorsement in Michigan state, candidates must be a licensed psychologist in another state or province of Canada and be able to provide verification of the completion of the educational requirements, verification of licensure, and EPPP exam scores. Proof of credentialing must be sent to the Board directly via the granting organization. Candidates who have held a professional license in psychology for fewer than 10 years must provide documentation that their doctoral program was equivalent to Michigan’s educational standards. Candidates must also complete the state’s required training in human trafficking and implicit bias. The application is available online.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Michigan psychologists must renew their licenses every two years by August 31. Renewal applications are submitted online and require a payment of $182. For each renewal period, psychologists must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) that includes:

  • Ethics (three hours)
  • Implicit bias (two hours)
  • Pain and symptom management (two hours)

No more than 12 continuing education hours may be earned in any 24-hour period.

Master’s Limited Psychologist

Michigan offers a limited psychology license that allows those with a master’s degree to practice under supervision. To qualify, in addition to completing an approved master’s degree in psychology, you must complete 2,000 hours of post-degree experience within a 24-month period in an approved health care setting. To begin accruing experience hours, candidates must apply for and be granted a Master’s Limited Psychologist-Temporary (TLLP). After completing 2,000 hours of supervised post-degree training, you may submit an online application via MiPLUS. You must pass the EPPP examination with a score of 350 or greater for application approval.

School Psychologist

School psychologist licenses are overseen by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). For a full School Psychologist Certificate, which is valid for five years, you must possess a Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate and have completed a 60 credit hour, state-approved, specialist-level degree in school psychology with a 1,200-hour internship. Out-of-state applicants must meet the same educational requirements and possess a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential issued by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

If you don’t meet the requirements for a full School Psychologist Certificate, you may apply for a Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate. The Preliminary Certificate is valid for three years. You must have completed a 45 semester hour graduate degree in an approved school psychology certification program, have completed a 600-hour supervised practicum in school psychology, and possess a valid out-of-state school psychologist certificate if your program was completed in another state. The Preliminary license can be renewed one time with six semester credit hours in an approved school psychologist program from an approved educator preparation program.

Applications can be submitted through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).

Michigan Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

Clinical psychologists working in Michigan had an average annual salary of $78,403 as of May 2021 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1 Postsecondary psychology teachers earned an average salary of $83,670.1 Projections Central predicts the number of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Michigan to increase by 4.7% by the year 2030.2 Postsecondary psychology teachers are expected to experience growth of 11.8% within the same time frame.2

OccupationNumber Employed1Average Annual Salary1
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists2,040$81,940
Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.
Psychologists, All Other400$74,810
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary880$83,670
School Psychologists1,190$78,460

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a psychologist in Michigan?

Undergraduate degrees generally take four years of study, and master’s can range between two to four years. Doctoral programs that include master’s may take five to six years or longer. In addition to this in-depth education, full licensure also requires 2,000 hours of post-doctoral degree experience. This can be completed in as little as one year or as many as two. The application process and preparing for the EPPP exam may add even more time. After all educational and experience requirements are met, it will likely take over a decade to become a practicing psychologist within the state of Michigan.

What degree do I need to be a licensed psychologist in Michigan?

You will need a doctoral degree from an accredited academic institution for full licensure. The program must also have APA or CPA accreditation or NR/ASPPB designation. Those pursuing limited licensure at the master’s level must have an approved master’s degree but do not need a doctoral-level education.

How much do psychologists in Michigan make?

The average yearly salary of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists was $81,940 as of May 2021.1 “All other” psychologists in Michigan earned $74,810 a year, on average, and postsecondary psychology instructors earned $83,670 per year.1

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Michigan: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/2600000
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm